Ohio state troopers shift to community response during COVID-19 pandemic

With fewer people driving there are fewer crashes and other traffic incidents in need of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s response.

Author: Tiffany Tarpley

Published: 5:48 PM EDT April 7, 2020

Updated: 6:28 PM EDT April 7, 2020

ELYRIA, Ohio — Like nearly everything else during the COVID-19 pandemic, law enforcement officers are shifting the way they do business.

With fewer people driving there are fewer crashes and other traffic incidents in need of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s response.

“We’re still ready and available to respond for duty and we’re highly visible to assist any motorists that find themselves in need but that’s also left us time to do more proactive things in the community to fulfill needs that we’re seeing and [that are] becoming more prevalent,” explains OSHP Sergeant Ray Santiago.

“In order for us to effectively meet those needs and perform our duty of serving folks we’ve had to adjust right along with the times.”

The adjustment includes assistance with food deliveries to seniors, food bank distribution and virtually reading to students.

“Anyway that we can assist and can truly serve the communities that we’re a part of, we’re finding those opportunities and we’re jumping on it and we’re just trying to be there,” he says.

“How everyone is pulling together, I think those connections are relationships that are going to stick around a lot longer than the virus.”